Frostburg State University Athletics

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State field hockey team dropped a hard-fought game to No. 8 Slippery Rock, 3-2, on a fourth-quarter penalty stroke.

SRU started with possession and struck first on the game's opening shot, with Grace Williams finishing a ball crossed from the far side of the field to lead 1-0 in the fifth minute. The Bobcats found the equalizer quickly, as sophomore Kenzie Cummins sent a ball into the circle that found freshman Izzy Gibbons, whose shot towards goal was deflected in by her sister Zoey to make it 1-1. Later in the period, the Rock had a string of chances, as freshman keeper Jenna Yazzetti, who was named the NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week earlier in the day, came up big for the Bobcats, making two saves while her defense made a block in front of her. After another effort went wide, SRU was given a penalty stroke with two minutes to go in the frame, however Yazzetti came up trumps, diving to her right to deny Josie Shultz and keep the game tied 1-1 at the end of the first quarter.

Slippery Rock didn't need much time to reassert themselves, taking the lead just 25 seconds into the second quarter, with Hilary Hoffman finding Lucy Hutchinson in front of goal. The Bobcats answered in less than a minute, however, as sophomore Ava Shorkey caused a defensive giveaway and sent a pass up the field to sophomore Caroline Earnshaw, who dribbled around the diving keeper and found the back of the goal from the left side for the 2-2 tie. SRU controlled much of the attacking play in the next 10 minutes, earning five penalty corners and forcing Yazzetti into three more saves to keep things even. Finally able to break out of their defensive zone, Frostburg earned a corner of their own, with junior Taylor Korczynski seeing an effort blocked. Two and a half minutes from the break, Zoey Gibbons had a chance to score on a counter but Sam Black stood in her way to take the game into the half at 2-2.

FSU had the first chance of the third period, with Shorkey getting in behind the defense but being denied by Black. Off a penalty corner, the Rock had two efforts go wide of the mark from Williams and Hutchinson, while Yazzetti was called upon once more after six minutes. Another corner produced one more save, as with four minutes on the clock, Yazzetti made back-to-back stops to keep SRU out. Frostburg was able to get up the field a minute later, with senior Avery Hayden having a shot blocked while two corners weren't able to produce an effort from either. In the final minute, Yazzetti made a stop on Hutchinson to keep the score the same headed to the fourth. 

The Rock came out the quicker of the two sides, as senior Morgan Sparks made a defensive clearance on the line from a corner, however in the follow-up scramble another penalty stroke was awarded to the visitors. This time it would be Coral Piramo to step up and fire into the right side of the cage to go ahead 3-2. Seeking another quick response similar to the first two goals, FSU earned a corner a minute later but weren't able to get a shot out of it. Slippery Rock's defense would largely keep the Bobcat attack at bay, as the visitors went in search of a fourth on offense. Yazzetti denied Hutchinson on back-to-back shots, then in one of her most acrobatic moments, produced a triple save, knocking the first shot down, diving to get to the second, and throwing a hand up from the ground to deny the third. FSU's offense wasn't able to get another chance away, giving SRU the one-goal win. 

Slippery Rock put up 26 shots on the day to Frostburg's six, holding a 20-4 margin in efforts on goal, as Yazzetti hit a new career high with 16 saves. 

With the loss, FSU drops to 6-7 on the year, while SRU improves to 10-3. The Bobcats will remain at home to face East Stroudsburg on Saturday, October 24 for their SAAC Highlight Game at 11 a.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com. 

With the loss, the Bobcats fall to 6-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play. FSU hosts No. 2 East Stroudsburg on Saturday at 11 a.m. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.